Buffalo Bills Expect 'A-Game' from New York Giants Despite Injuries

Sean McDermott anticipates that New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll's return to Western New York could make their matchup with the Buffalo Bills closer than expected.

Week 6’s episode of Sunday Night Football will play host to a homecoming of sorts.

When the New York Giants visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, they’ll be led by former Bills offensive coordinator, head coach Brian Daboll. Constructing his roster is general manager Joe Schoen, who is a former Bills executive himself.

Adding to the theatrics is the return of former Buffalo quarterback, and local folk hero, Tyrod Taylor. With Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones out for the contest with a neck injury, he’ll likely be called upon to start.

Buffalo is widely expected to get back to its winning ways, both in the locker room and from the media, but this one may play out closer than the two-touchdown spread that precedes it.

Head coach Sean McDermott spoke about the challenge of this “revenge game” of sorts.

Daboll with his former quarterback, Josh Allen / © Rich Barnes, USA TODAY

“We’re gonna get their A-game,” McDermott said. “That’s how this works when you go up against your former team in some ways.”

He also made sure to acknowledge the progress the Giants have made since their hirings. New York surprised the football world and not only made the playoffs, but defeated the Minnesota Vikings to advance to the Divisional Round last season. Even at 1-4, McDermott knows they aren’t a pushover.

“We have a lot of respect for them,” McDermott said. “Coach Daboll has done a great job, earned that job, had 10 wins last year. Joe Schoen, the same thing, he earned that job and he did a great job in Buffalo in the years he was here. We’re just very supportive of them and what they’re trying to get done.”

The Giants haven’t lived up to expectations, especially on offense. Rewarding Jones with a lucrative contract extension has blown up in their face, and the offensive line they’ve put together—now ravaged by injuries—may be the worst unit in the league.

“But at the same time now we play each other,” McDermott said. “We’ve got to have a great week of practice and get ourselves ready to go for Sunday night”

Getting back in the win column may not need the monumental effort it took against the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago, but a sloppy effort can let a bad team stick around. As they witnessed in Week 1, playing to an opponent’s level, rather than their own, is a good way to introduce variance and, sometimes, an unexpected loss.

In a tight AFC East race, Buffalo cannot afford such a blunder. Expect a Bills win and some cordial handshakes on Sunday.